Tuesday 27th February 2024.
Always nice to see the Jay within the Cemetery, adding a splash of colour.
A much better morning today with bright sunshine and though cold (5 degrees centigrade) with a light northerly wind, it was still pleasant enough. Yesterday was a lot colder with a stiff strong northerly wind making it feel a lot colder than today, but I still notched up 15 species in Pembroke Road, Old Portsmouth that included a small flock of 4 Brent Geese and best of all, a pair of Ravens flew in from the south and headed low north over the rooftops. This morning, 14 species were noted that included the highest number of Brent Geese on Governor’s Green I have seen this year, with 45 birds present grazing on the short grass. A Goldcrest was heard calling in the Holm Oak trees, but no sighting of the bird this time. It has been a while since I have noticed one here.
Above, one of the many Wood Pigeons picking off vegetation within the Cemetery, close to the footpath and below, a not so fortunate individual. Sparrowhawk kill, perhaps?
Above, a real splash of Spring with flowering Daffodils and Bluebells on one of the graves and below, a pair of House Sparrows. Sparrows are not always guaranteed to be seen in the Cemy, though they do take a liking to some of the bushes on the east side.
Above, Self-heal and below, the Sweet Violets are still present this morning.
Above, one of several singing Wrens and below, I noticed a lot of this particular tree had lost its larger branches. The actual tree is rotten throughout and I expect the Council will fell it sooner rather than later.
The Jay showed well again this morning and posed quite nicely at times.
Above, this male Blackbird went about upturning the leaves on the damp grass.
After my first shift, I grabbed the dogs and took them for a walk around Highland Road Cemetery to join the many other dog-walkers present. The lady from the Council, checking for dogs off leads, was present again today, which is always a good thing I believe. Sadly, too many dog-walkers are flouting the law regarding their animals and the dog mess it seems is sadly getting worse. Not a large species tally this morning with just 17 species noted, though the Green Woodpecker showed again this morning. Unfortunately, I could not get any photos of the bird this time, what with it flying through the tree branches, but I had more luck with the Jay that showed reasonably well. Cloud cover came in as the morning progressed and therefore the light was a bit difficult to get any decent photos this morning. I think the cold weather has put a hold on any insects to be on the wing here, despite a good search for any Hoverflies and butterflies. Both Self-heal and Sweet Violet were on show again this morning still and some of the graves did look stunning with flowering Daffodils on them.
The species recorded in the Cemetery this morning included the following:
- Herring Gull
- Wood Pigeon
- Feral Pigeon
- Collared Dove
- Starling
- House Sparrow
- Wren
- Robin
- Blackbird
- Blue Tit
- Great Tit
- Green Woodpecker
- Jay
- Carrion Crow
- Magpie
- Greenfinch
- Goldfinch
In Hampshire today, fellow ‘Lazee’ Gary Fennemore recorded 7 Common Scoter, Great Northern Diver, Eider, 6 Sandwich Tern and a Slavonian Grebe from Sandy Point and the two very long staying Waxwings were still at Braishfield, Romsey as well. The Bittern at Fishlake Meadows was still ‘booming’ this morning (something I have never heard yet!). Yesterday, a House Martin was seen several times hawking over Titchfield Haven Nature Reserve. Nationally, the Baikal Teal was again at Greylake RSPB Reserve in Somerset and the superb Myrtle Warbler was again at Kilwinning in Ayrshire (see photos below).
Above and below, the Myrtle Warbler at Kilwinning. Many thanks to Paul Coombes for these photos of the bird.
Before my second shift, I got there early in the afternoon and gave myself around an hour to take a walk around Governor’s Green and onto the promenade by the Long Curtain moat. A lot of money has been spent in renovating this area of Old Portsmouth and not only does it look very modern, but it has kept a lot of the old architecture here as well. Governor’s Green only held a large flock of ‘grazing’ Wood Pigeons at first, but eventually, two adults and a juvenile Brent Geese flew in and landed on the Green for a spot of lunch. There was an outside chance of a Black Redstart lurking about around the moat, but all I could find were a large number of Feral Pigeons and a pair of Great Black-backed Gulls; the latter were swimming on the moat, though I was not impressed by the amount of rubbish laying on top of the water! Very sad.
Above, a swathe of Wood Pigeons 'grazing' on Governor's Green with the Old Garrison Church behind. Below, a pair of Great Black-backed Gulls swimming on the moat. Just a shame about all the rubbish floating in the moat.
Above, when I reached the moat, looking back I noticed three Brent Geese about to land on Governor's Green. Below, an adult Shag was a nice surprise swimming on the sea not too far out.
Above, another photo of the adult Shag and below, the footbridge going over the moat.
Above, just the three Brent Geese on Governor's Green this afternoon; though they didn't stay long.
Out on the Solent and not too far from Portsmouth Harbour entrance, there was a close adult Shag swimming / fishing on the sea and it showed very well during the 15 minutes I was there. Unfortunately, apart from a few Black-headed Gulls, very little of note here I’m afraid. There was a flock of 6 Pied Wagtails on the Bowling Green when I had just parked up, but were soon flushed by a Groundsman as the birds headed off north. At least the weather picked up and got a lot warmer than this morning. I enjoyed that walk and as Spring is not too far away, there could actually be a few surprises in the area as the migrants come in.
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